SCDF paramedics to be equipped with body-worn cameras by 2020

SINGAPORE — Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) paramedics will progressively be equipped with body-worn cameras from Friday (Feb 1) in order to improve the “quality and effectiveness” of emergency medical services.

The cameras — which are compact and can be worn over the ear — will be issued to all paramedics by 2020, said SCDF in a statement on Thursday (Jan 31).

Assistant Commissioner Yazid Abdullah, director of SCDF’s medical department, said the cameras will allow SCDF to “deliver better medical care and accountability to patients”.

SCDF said that recordings will be also used for coaching and training, and to improve its medical procedures.

Live-streaming capabilities will be added to the cameras in future, to allow off-site doctors to advise paramedics attending to complicated cases on the ground.

PRIVACY SAFEGUARDS

“Robust control measures” are in place to regulate the use of the cameras and their recordings, said Assistant Commissioner Yazid.

For instance, paramedics will stop recording in certain situations — such as maternity cases — to protect patients’ privacy.

Only authorised personnel will be allowed to handle the collection, storage and use of the cameras’ footage, which will be encrypted for added security, said SCDF. Access to the recordings will also be logged for audit checks.

The footage will be deleted after 90 days from the date of recording, unless required for police investigations or other justified situations, said SCDF.

Any officer who misuses a camera or its recordings will be dealt with severely, it added.

In 2015, the Singapore Police Force started issuing body-worn cameras to its officers to aid with investigations and evidence gathering.